Outside door handle



y 9 44. R. RHEIN OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 7(1942 ATTORNEKS 3 Sheets-S 2 l/Idv L. R. RHEIN OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE Filed Feb. 7, 1942 INVENTOR.

A /1e/ M M w BY I May 16, V Y L. R. RHEIN OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE Filed Feb. 7, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' INVENTOR: Lloyd A. Pb ein ATTORNE Y6.

Patented May 16, 1944 OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE Lloyd R. Rhein. Pleasant Ridge, Mich, assignor to Tcrnstedt Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application February '7, 1942, Serial No. 429,848 9 Claims. (01. 292-347) This invention relates to sheet metal or plastic outer door handles for automobiles.

It is the object of the invention to provide a sheet metal or plastic handle which can be made in several parts and quickly and easily assembled together. Die cast handles require considerable zinc and zinc is a diflicult material to obtain at this time.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through one form of sheet metal handle.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of'a modified form of sheet metal handle. v

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a still different form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of still another modification showing a combined plastic and sheet metal handle.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of another modification of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 11.

Referring to Fig. 1, l designates the handle spindle which has a reduced end 2 which is milled as at 3. 4 is a handle stem curved in longitudinal section and made of relatively heavy bar stock. This has a flattened end 5 which fits over the milled portion 3 of the handle spindle. This fits over the spindle rather tightly so as to provide a grip between the stem and the spindle. A pair of Washers 6 and I, one of which is a friction washer, fits over the extreme end of the reduced portion of the spindle and then the end of the spindle is riveted down as at 8 to clinch the parts together. The tight-fitting handle stem in connection with the serrations of the milled portions of the handle spindle form a breakable connection between the handle and the handle spindle so that if one tries to force the handle by means of a pipe telescoped over the handle or any other tool in order to force entry into the car, the handle gives way without breaking the internal parts of the lock. At the same time, it will still grip the stem sufficiently with the aid of the friction washer so that when the owner of the car unlocks the door the handle can still retract the latch bolt to enable him to get in. The several modifications shown in the drawings all embody this breakable connection between the handle and the spindle.

In Fig. 1 the handle assembly takes the form of an outer or scalp unit 9 to which is welded a plurality of spacers l0. These spacers have their central portions punched in as at H and these central portions are threaded to take the screws l2. Thus the spacers are also nuts. After the spacers have been spot welded in place, all that is necessary is to fit the scalp assembly over the stem 4 which has already been assembled on the spindle I, and then secure the scalp unit to the stem by means of the screws l2.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the center spacer or clip l3 can be snapped in place on the stem 4a by spreading the edges of the clip and allowing the spring legs of the clip to snap into the recesses M in the side of the stem. The end clip I5 can be secured to the end of the stem bya screw I211. Then the outer scalp 511 can be telescoped over the end clip l5 and then snapped over the center clip 13. On the other hand, the assembly could be made by forcing the end clip l5 and the center clip I3 in place in the outer shell and then snapping the shell in place by forcing the center clip l3 over the stem until the hooks l6 snapvinto the recesses M of the stem. The screw IZamay then be passed through the stem and screwed into the clip [5.

In the form of handle shown in Fig. 6, sheet metal nuts I! are inserted in openings l8 in blocks of rubber l9. These blocks of rubber together with the nuts are forced into the channel of the outer shell member 91). The outer shell assembly is then fitted over the stem 4b and the screws l2b are turned into the nuts. The blocks of rubber H! are distorted as the screw is turned down and are forced up as at 20 between the handle stem 41) and the turned-in end 2! of the outer shell. This forms a very secure tie between the outer shell and the inner shell for the reason that the side walls 22 of the stem flare out and when the rubber is driven up into the recesses between these flared side walls and the turned-in flanges 2|, this forms a sort of dovetail lock which ties the parts together.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the outer shell member is a molded plastic which is secured to the stem 40 by means of screws I20.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the clips 25 are forced into the channel of the outer member 9d and the stem id is secured to these clips by screws l2d.

What I claim is:

LA handle, particularly an outer handle for an automobile door, having in combination a stem of heavy stock, one end of which can be secured to the end of the handle spindle, an outer sheet metal unit arranged to fit and conform to the heavy stock stem member and screw means inserted from the under side of the stem for fastening the two members together.

2. A handle, particularly an outer handle for an automobile door, having in combination a stem of heavy stock, one end of which can be secured to the end of the handle spindle, an outer sheet metal unit arranged to fit and conform to the heavy stock stem member and provided with spacer members having threaded openings and one or more screws for engaging in said openings and removably fastening the two members together.

3. A handle, particularly an outer handle for an automobile door, having in combination a stem of heavy stock, one end of which can be secured to the end of the handle spindle, an outer unit arranged to fit and conform to the heavy stock stem member and provided with spacer members having threaded openings and one or more screws for engaging said threaded openings and removably fastening the two members together.

4, A handle, particularly an outer handle for an automobile door, comprising a heavy metal stock forming a stem, one end of which can be fastened to the end of the handle spindle and an outer sheet metal assembly conforming with and fitting the said stem, said assembly comprising an outer scalp member and an inner spacer member assembled together in a permanent unit and means passing through the stem member for securing the outer shell assembly to the stem.

5. A handle, particularly an outside handle for an automobile door, having in combination an arched stem of heavy stock with a flattened end adapted to be secured to the end of a handle spindle and a sheet metal unit comprising an outer scalp and a plurality of spacers spot welded to the scalp each provided with a tapped opening and screws for passing through the heavy stock of the stem of the handle and into the tapped openings of the spacers for securing the spacers to the stem.

6. A handle, particularly an outside handle for an automobile door, having in combination an arched stem of heavy stock having an end with an opening to fit over the end of the handle spindle and a spring clip adapted to fit over the stock of the stem and having turned-in ends adapted to snap into the sides of the stem and a sheet metal scalp fitting over the outside of the clip and held by the clip to the stem.

'7. A handle, particularly an outside handle for an automobile door, having in combination 'an arched stem of heavy stock having an end with an opening to fit over the end of the handle spindle and a spring clip adapted to fit over the stock of the stem and having turnedin ends adapted to snap into th sides of the stem, a sheet metal scalp fitting over the outside of the clip and held by the clip to the stem, an end clip having a turned-over portion fitting into the end of the scalp and a screw for securing such clip to the stem.

8. A sheet metal handle, particularly an outside door handle, a stem of heavy stock having an endfor fitting over the end of the handle spindle, ascalp of channel cross-section for fitting over the stem, rubber blocks each encasing a nut fitting into the channel of the scalp and screws passing through the stem and into the nuts of the rubber blocks and arranged to pull the rubber blocks down upon the handle stem and thereby distort and expand the rubber to cause the same to securely tie the stem and the scalptogether.

9. A sheet metal handle, particularly an outside door handle, comprising a stem of heavy stock arched longitudinally and having a fiattened end adapted to fit over the end of a handle spindle, an outer ornamental shell of channel cross-section adapted to fit over said stem and clips adapted to be jambed or forced into the channel and having tapped openings and screws passing through the heavy stock of the stem and screwing into the tapped openings of the said clips for tying the outer shell to the stem.

LLOYD R. RHEIN. 

